Steering mechanism for motor-vehicles.



I J. H. VENNERS.

STEERING MECHANISM FOR MOTOR VEHICLES,

' APPLICATION FILED AUG. 23, 1911.

1 1 Patented Jan. 7, 1913.

2 sHEtTs-smBT 1.

wi tmwdw affo'anu J. H. VBNNBRS.

STEERING MECHANISM FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.23,1911. L V i,@@9,4231 v Patemedl Jan, 7, 1913.

2 SKEBTSSHEET 2.

j-cmED STATES PATENT oFFIon- 'J'AMES H. VENNERS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR' OF ONE-FOURTH T0 WIL- LIAM L. MILLSPAUGH, ONE-FOURTH TO WALTER W. COURT, AND ONE-FOURTH TO FREDERIC VENNIERS COURT, ALL OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

STEERING MECHANISM FOR MOTOR-VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. '7, 1913.

T 0 all whom,- it may concern -Be it known that I. JAMES H. VnNNEas, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Steering blechanism for Motor-Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to motor power vehicles of the general class having a hand steering wheel connected to any type of mechanism to perform the movement. required to steer the vehicle by hand power.

The object of the invention is to attach to avehicle an interchangeable mechanism hav ing means for steering the vehicle either by hand power or motor powerwith the same appliance; also to provide means whereby the change from hand to motor power may be effected instantly without requiring theoperator to leave his seat.

It is well known that hand power steering is not only laborious but requires con-.

stant control of the hand wheel, which if left free from the hand of the operator, especially-when the vehicle is traveling at a high rate of speed, the front wheels frequently change position, thereby resulting in an accident before the operator can readjust the steering wheels to safety.

In the present invention means are provided to avoid the objections noted, since the invention provides means for changingthc position of the steering wheels from the greatest radius in perfect time with the speed of the vehicle, so that when traveling at a low speed the steering mechanism will be correspondingly slow and if running at a high speed the steering movement will be performed in perfect harmony with the speed of the vehicle, thereby reducing the liability to accident to the smallest amount possible, since the imperfect action of steering by hand power depending upon the judgment of the operator as to i'elativespecd of the vehicle is wholly ovei-mn'ic.

The invention further contemplates means for locking the steering post in the located position so that both hands of the operator may he left free, the locking mechanism securing the steering mechanism in the adjusted position whether moved by hand or by power derived from the motor or engine.

The invention consists of the novel features, details of construction and combination of parts, which hereinafter will he more particularly set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the appended, claims.

Referring to the drawings, forming a part of the 'speeifiaitio-n, Figure l is a plan view of part of an automobile provided with steering mechanism embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a side view. Fig. 3 is a detail view, showing more clearly the parts associated with the steering mechanism. Fig.

4 is a horizontal section on the line x-m of Fig. 8. 4 1

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description, and indicated in all the views of the drawings, by the same reference characters.

The shaft of the motor or engine employed for driving the vehicle is indicatedat 1 and is provided with a pinion-2,'which is in mesh with a gear wheel 3 fastened to a shaft 4, which transmits motion from the motor shaft to the gearing for operating the steering mechanism. A bevel pinion 5, secured to the shaft 4, is in mesh with a bevel gear wheel 6, which is secured to a shaft 7 having a vertical arrangement. A gear wheel Ssecured to the shaft 7 is in mesh V with a-gear wheel 9 mounted upon an arm 10, which is attached to the lower end of a hollow shaft- 11 mounted upon the shaft 7.

A hand lever 12 is secured to the upper end of the shaft 11 and provides convenient means for turning said'shaft either to, the right or to the left to throw the gear wheel 5.) into meshing engagement with cog teeth 1?, or Hot a frame 15, which latter is con nectcd by means of a rod or bar 16 toa convenient part of the steering mechanism, such as the arm of a steering knuckle or the rod connecting the arms of the steering knuckles of a motor "driven vehicle. It is to be understood that any well known means may be employed to hold the lever 12 in a given position with the gear wheel 9 neutral. V? hen the motor is in operation the shaft 4 is continuously'driven in the same direction and imparts a rotary movement to the shaft 7 and to the gear wheels 8 and 9. Upon turningthe shaft 11 either to the right or to the left the gear wheel 9 is thrown into engagement with one or the other sets of cog teeth or 14:, thereby moving the frame 15 either forwardly or rearwardly to cause the vehicle to turn either to the right -or to the left. When the shaft 11 is turned to throw the gear wheel 9 into a neutral position, that is out ofmeshwith both sets of cog teeth 13 and 14., the steering mechanism may be'locked in the adjusted position or may be'inoved by hand in the usual man-- nor by means of the accustomed hand wheel 1 which is secured to the upper end of the .steering post 18, which in the present instance is arranged vertically. A gear wheel, 19 secured to the steering post 18 meshes with cog teeth 20 provided upon the frame- 15, whereby the latteemay be moved by hand when the steering mechanism is manually operated. A locking mechanism- 21 is provided for securing the steering post 18- in the located position and this loci-ting mechanism may consist' of a lever and a toothed bar, thereby admitting of securing the steering post when turned to any re quired angular position.

When thevehicle is to be steered by hand the shaft 11 is turned to throw the gear wheel 9 out of mesh with the cog teeth 13v and l l when manipulation of the hand wheel 17 results in moving the frame 15 and the steering wheelsin the usual manner. Should it be required. to operate the steering mechanism by means of the motor the shaft 11 is turned in the proper direc tion to bring the gear ,wheel9 into engage ment with either set of cog teeth 13 or 14, when the frame 15 will be moved in the required direction. It is observed that the frame 15 when moved by power derived from the motor is governed by the speed of the vehicle,- with the result that the steering mechanism is moved in harmony with the speed at which the vehicle is driven, thereby moving the steering wheels slowly or quickly according to whether the machine is driven at a low speed or at a high speed. When the steering mechanism is adjusted its position may be fixed by the locking mechanism 21, thereby leaving the hands of the driver or operator of the vehicle free.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying draw ings, the advantages of the construction and ofthe method of operation will be readily apparent to 'thoseskilled in the art to which the invention appertains, and whileI have described theprinciple of operation of the invention, together with the device which I now consider to be the embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative, and

that such ,changes.may be made when desired as are within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new, is

'1. In steering mechanism for mechanically propelled vehicles, the combination of a frame provided with two sets of cog teeth and adapted to be connected with the steering mechanism, a gear wheel, connectng means'between sald gear wheel and the -motor employed for driving the vehicle. a

a second gear wheel mounted upon said.

arm and in mesh with the first mentioned gear wheel and deriving power therefrom,

and means for turning the shaft and arm to throw the second gear wheel into engagement'wlth either the of the sets of cog teeth.

3. In steering 'rnechanism for mechanically propelled vehicles, the combination of a frame provided with two sets of cog teeth, 7

a steering post adapted to be operated by hand, a gear wheel connected with the steermg post and in mesh with one set of cog teeth of said frame to admit of steering the vehicle by hand, a second gear wheel, connecting means between the second gear wheel and motor of the vehicle, a third gear wheel in mesh with said second gear Wheel,

and means for moving the third gear wheel to throw it into engagement with either one oft-he two setsot cog teeth, whereby the vehicle may be steered by power derived from the motor.

' a. In steeringmechanismfor mechanically propelled vehicles, the combination of a frame provided with two sets of cog teeth, a steering post adapted to be operated by hand,'a gear wheel connected with the steering post and in mesh with one set of cog teeth of said frame to admit of steering the vehicle by hand, a second gear wheel, connecting means between the second gear wheel and motor of the vehicle, a third gear wheel in mesh with said second gear wheel,

driver free. G. M. KASEMAN.

means for moving the third gear wheel to In testimony whereof I aflix my signature throw it into engagement With. either one of in presence of two Witnesses.

the tWo sets of cog teeth, whereby the vehicle may be steered by power derived from JAMES H. VENNERS. the motor, and a look mechanism for securing the steering mechanism in the adjusted Witnesses:

position, thereby leaving both hands of the TALTER W. COURT, 

